I don’t have a map in front of me, but currently the most western AHL teams in the Western Conference are the Texas Stars (Dallas affiliate) and San Antonio Rampage (Florida). That’s going to change, and Colorado’s AHL affiliate — currently the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland — could relocate in a Mountain Time zone. I’m hearing Denver (Denver Coliseum), Colorado Springs (World Arena) and Salt Lake City (EnergySolutions Arena, originally Delta Center) are the top options.

Denver Cutthroats owner John Hayes might be in the middle of a deal to bring the Avs’ AHL affiliate to the Rocky Mountains. So I called him. “At this time, I can’t comment,” he politely told me. Make no mistake, the Denver/Colorado Springs/Salt Lake City Cutthroats of the AHL would work.

Former Cutthroats coach Derek Armstrong, the former longtime L.A. Kings forward who was the CHL’s coach of the year last season, also might be involved. Armstrong was the Cutthroats’ GM when the CHL collapsed in August. “Army” is still in Denver and tight with Avalanche executives Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy.

If Colorado makes a move, it doesn’t mean the the Lake Erie Monsters will disband. The most successful AHL cities are bound to keep their teams or inherit another. Ultimately, the idea is to have the Western Conference and Eastern Conference make sense geographically and only play conference games during the regular season.

The AHL would work in Colorado. The state’s previous minor-league teams failed because they were double-A or lower. The triple-A model has great promise.

Matt Duchene led the Avalanche in scoring last season with 23 goals and 70 points. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Dawg Bowl IV is Thursday through Sunday at Littleton’s Edge Ice Arena, and in addition to 40 adult men’s and women’s teams competing in seven divisions, another massive silent auction will serve as the centerpiece of the big party between two sheets of ice.

The highly charitable Dawg Nation has close ties with the Avalanche and its Central Hockey League affiliate, the Denver Cutthroats, and many items from those teams have been donated for the silent auction, with all proceeds going to local hockey players in need.

A sampling of the silent auction items: signed large picture of four the Avalanche captains; an Avalanche experience, a game-day visit with the team at the Pepsi Center; Avs tickets throughout the 2014-15 season; Jamie McGinn signed stick and Matt Duchene and Semyon Varlamov signed sweaters, plus a Paul Stastny-signed Team USA sweater; rides on a Zamboni during an Avalanche games … and much more from other professional and college teams.

Denver Cuttroats captain Aaron MacKenzie leave the ice after Game 1 of the CHL Finals. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Congratulations to the Denver Cutthroats for an excellent second season. The Avalanche’s Central Hockey League affiliate lost in the league finals, in five games to the Allen Americans. The Fish were 38-17-11 in the regular season, second best among the CHL’s 10 teams. Team owner John Hayes and coach/president Derek Armstrong have done a brilliant job with this expansion franchise. Salute to them and everyone affiliated with the grassroots effort to re-establish minor-league hockey in Denver.

Denver Cutthroats goalie allows a goal in Game 1 of the CHL Finals. The Cutthroats lost Game 5 of the finals Saturday to lose the series 4-1 to the Allen Americans. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Game 5 of the Central Hockey League finals was a microcosm for the entire series.

Trailing three games to one, the Denver Cutthroats struck first, but couldn’t hold on as an avalanche of goals by the Allen Americans in the second period paved the way for Allen’s second consecutive Ray Miron President’s Cup Championship in a 5-2 victory Saturday in Allen, Texas.

The Cutthroats — reeling from three straight defeats — got a Kyle Fletcher power-play goal to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. But once Allen tied the score in the second period, the wheels came off and the Americans scored three more times in the period to leave no doubt that they would clinch the series on home ice.

Allen forward Jamie Schaafsma scores on Cutthroats goalie Kent Patterson in Game 1 of the CHL Finals. Schaafsma scored his fifth goal of the series Friday in a Game 4 overtime win over the Cutthroats. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Just seven days ago, the Denver Cutthroats seemed poised to take a 2-0 lead in the Central Hockey League Finals. They had scored three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead in the second period of Game 2 and appeared to get a fourth goal when J.P. Chabot scored on a rebound.

The Allen Americans celebrate a goal in Game 1 of the CHL Finals. Allen took a 2-1 series lead over the Denver Cutthroats with a 3-1 win Wednesday in Allen, Texas. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

The Allen Americans defeated the Denver Cutthroats, 3-1, in Game 3 of the CHL’s Ray Miron President’s Cup finals Wednesday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

Allen forward Gregor Hanson’s goal broke a 1-1 tie with just under six minutes to play in the third period, and Kale Kerbashian added an empty-net goal for the final margin. Cutthroats goalie Kent Patterson was solid with 34 saves.

The Americans struck first five minutes into the first period as veteran defenseman Daniel Tetrault beat Patterson for 1-0 lead. Kyle Fletcher evened things for the Cutthroats two minutes when he scored off a rebound from a Garett Bembridge shot.

Denver Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong gives some instructions to his players in an April 9 game against Tulsa. The Cutthroats open the CHL finals Friday against the Allen Americans. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Three items for this sunny Saturday:

1.Pro hockey is alive and well in Denver with the Cutthroats. In just their second year of existence, the Avalanche’s Central Hockey League affiliate is playing in the league championship series against the defending champion Allen Americans, and Denver took Game 1 on Friday 5-4 at the Denver Coliseum. Game 2 is tonight at the same building, 6 p.m. Go support local owner John Hayes and his hard-working folks.

Denver Cutthroats forward Garett Bembridge celebrates after A.J. Gale scored his second goal of the night. Bembridge set up Gale to put the team up 3-0. (Seth McConnell. The Denver Post)

There’s hot and then there’s A.J. Gale.

Gale tied a Central Hockey League playoff record with four goals and the Denver Cutthroats needed every one of them as they held off the defending champion Allen Americans 5-4 in Game 1 of the Ray Miron President’s Cup finals on Friday at the Denver Coliseum.

“He’s pretty close to the sun right now. He’s hot,” Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong said.

Denver Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong gives some instructions to his players in an April 9 game against Tulsa. The Cutthroats open the CHL finals Friday against the Allen Americans. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

The Denver Cutthroats had some time to gear up for the Central Hockey League finals, but only found out Wednesday night who they would match up against.

The test could not be tougher. The defending champion Allen Americans are heading to Denver for Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday at the Denver Coliseum to play for the Ray Miron President’s Cup — named for the one of the CHL founders.

Allen dispatched the Quad City Mallards 3-2 in Game 7 of its semifinal series Wednesday night in Allen, Texas, which is 25 miles north of Dallas.

Allen and Denver already know each other well: The Cutthroats lost to them last year in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Allen went on to be crowned champs.

J.P. Chabot scored the game-winning goals in both Game 3 of the opening round series against Tulsa and in the second round against Arizona. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

The Denver Cutthroats are one win away from the finals.

After sweeping Games 3 and 4 in Arizona against the No. 8 Sundogs, the Cutthroats return to Denver with a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven, second-round series. Game 5 is at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Denver Coliseum.

“It’s been quite a war so far. We’re fortunate to have won three games,” Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong said.

Denver will have three chances to close out the Sundogs and advance to play for the Ray Miron Cup and the championship of the Central Hockey League. If they advance, The Cutthroats would play either the defending champion Allen Americans or the No. 5-seeded Quad City Mallards. Allen leads the series 2-1.

From the first faceoff, the Denver Cutthroats knew they were in for a much for physical series than they faced in the first round of the Central Hockey League playoffs.

But the Cutthroats showed they are up the for the challenge in this second round as they tightened up their defense in 2-1 victory over the Arizona Sundogs Friday at the Denver Coliseum in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

“It’s a totally different series than Tulsa. Tulsa had some really skilled forwards that lulled you to sleep, but these guys are kind of in your face all the time,” Cutthroats defenseman Sean Zimmerman said. “I think that kind of fits our style, definitely my style a little bit more.”

Goalie Kent Patterson made 28 saves — 13 coming in the third period — and the Cutthroats hung on against the Sundogs, who upset the No. 1-seed Missouri Mavericks in the first round.

The Denver Cutthroats celebrate their Game 3 overtime victory over the Tulsa Oilers on April 9. The Cutthroats beat the Oilers in six games to advance to the second round of the CHL playoffs. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Garett Bembridge carried the Denver Cutthroats’ offense for much of the regular season but his latest goal was surely his biggest.

The league MVP scored the game-winning goal with 5:45 remaining in overtime of Game 6 against the Tulsa Oilers to send the Cutthroats to the second round of the Central Hockey League playoffs in a 5-4 win Wednesday night in Tulsa. The Cutthroats won the series 4-2.

Denver gave up a two-goal lead in the third period, only to have Bembridge rescue the team from a potential Game 7 in Denver.

The Cutthroats won their first-ever playoff series against the Oilers after falling 4-1 to the eventual champions, the Allen Americans, in the first round of the 2012-13 playoffs.

EDMONTON, Alberta — Greetings from balmy Edmonton, where the Avalanche begins a season-ending, four-game road trip Tuesday against the Oilers. It really is pleasant here, albeit a bit muddy because of all the snow melt. I was here in early December with the Avs and it was something like minus-39. When I landed it was around 40 on the plus side.

I love working in Canada because there is that extra excitement about the local hockey teams and their next games. Major-junior’s Edmonton Oil Kings are in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs and getting good space in papers. And so are the Oilers, who are playing some of their best hockey of the season. They beat mighty Anaheim 4-2 on Sunday at Rexall Place.

Meanwhile, about that headline: the U16 Colorado Thunderbirds led by captain Alex Overhardt, son of prominent Denver-based NHL agent Kurt Overhardt, nearly won their second Tier I national championship on Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. In the 16-under title game of youth hockey’s highest level (Tier 1, triple-A), the Thunderbirds fell 2-1 to Team Wisconsin in four overtimes. “It was an epic battle with both teams leaving it all on the ice,” said Colorado coach Angelo Ricci, the former DU Pioneer who is also the Thunderbirds director.

Garett Bembridge was named the Most Valuable Player of the Central Hockey League Monday. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Garett Bembridge likes to shoot and he likes to score. Fortunately for the Denver Cutthroats he did a lot of both this season and for that he was named the Central Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player on Monday.

“He’s a shooter, he loves to shoot the puck and everything gets created off of that,” head coach Derek Armstrong said.

The right-winger led the league in goals, points, shots on goal, power-play goals and was tied for first in game-winning goals. His season totals of 42 goals, 62 assists and 104 points all set career highs for the 32-year-old forward from Saskatchewan. He said it was the first MVP of his career.

Denver Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong won the CHL’s Coach of the Year award on Thursday. (Seth McConnell, YourHub)

The Denver Cutthroats have a lot going for them heading into the playoffs. They have two MVP candidates, their top goaltender is back and now they have the coach of the year behind the bench.

Head coach Derek Armstrong was voted the Central Hockey League’s Coach of of the Year Thursday. The award is voted on by the head coaches of the 10 CHL teams. Armstrong appeared on all nine ballots on which he was eligible. Coaches were not permitted to vote for themselves.

“For guys who have been around for a long a time, to get respect from them, ultimately that’s what you want and it’s pretty cool to get that,” Armstrong said. “ It’s a pretty incredible league and there were some incredible coaches up for the award.”

Kyle Fletcher, left, and Aaron MacKenzie celebrate a Denver Cutthroats goal from a game earlier in the season. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

The Denver Cutthroats just keep on rolling.

Despite not having high-scoring forward A.J. Gale on Friday, rookie Vincent Arseneau proved to be a more-than-adequate fill in, netting a hat trick in the Cutthroats’ 6-3 win over the Quad City Mallards at the Denver Coliseum.

It’s the seventh consecutive win for the Cutthroats, who showed no signs of a letdown after a 3,000-mile, four-game road trip that took them to Canada for the first time. The win put them in sole possession of second place in the Central Hockey League, two points ahead of the Rapid City Rush.

Garett Bembridge leads the Central Hockey League in goals and points and he’s a finalist for Most Valuable Player. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

Things are shaping up nicely for the Denver Cutthroats as they wind down the 2013-14 regular season. They’ve won six games in a row, clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive year and they have four finalists for the Central Hockey League Year-End awards.

Forwards Troy Schwab and Garett Bembridge are both up for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, goalie Kent Patterson is a finalist for the Scott Brower Memorial Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and forward Vincent Arseneau is nominated for rookie of the year.

Denver Cutthroats forward A.J. Gale fires a shot during a past game at the Denver Coliseum. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)

The Avalanche’s Central Hockey League affiliate, the Denver Cutthroats, became the third CHL team to clinch a playoff spot in the eight-team postseason format. Team president/head coach Derek Armstrong’s squad is 31-15-10 with 10 remaining regular-season games.

“Clinching a spot in the playoffs gives us great pride as an organization,” Armstrong, the longtime NHL forward, said in a release. “We have exceeded all expectations this season and now we have a chance to win the Ray Miron President’s Cup.”

The Fish, owned by Broomfield businessman John Hayes, are in just their second season. They lost in the first round of the playoffs last year to the Allen Americans.

Just three remaining regular-season home games for the Cutthroats, who host Quad City on Friday and Saturday and Allen on Sunday. Check them out.

Tickets are $15 to $50 and all proceeds go to hockey players in need. This is a great group of people who are supported by most of Colorado hockey’s heavy hitters, including the Avalanche, Denver Cutthroats and Denver-area youth organizations. You can support them by laughing Wednesday night.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.